“We’re going to be aggressive,” Bush said. “We’re going to attack. You’ll see more passion in our play.”

Bush talked about developing a mindset that will help the players force more turnovers.

“I think the first thing you do is simplify so your guys get faster,” he said. “The faster we play, the more times we get big hits. The more big hits we get, the more times that ball will come out. We want guys to attack and be violent and create turnovers.”

The more Bush talked about what he’ll bring to the Texans’ table, the more fired up middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans got.

“The guys I’ve talked to are excited about Frank getting the job, and I’m excited, too, because, as the play-caller, I’m going to get to work with him the most,” Ryans said. “He’s got an aggressive philosophy. It’s going to be violent. And I love it.

“In our situation, stability’s important. Frank’s got a head start because he knows the players, and we know him. Guys want to play for him. When he speaks, all eyes and ears are focused on him.”

Bush is the first of three defensive hires coach Gary Kubiak has to make. He’s expected to hire David Gibbs, who coached Kansas City’s defensive backs the last three years. Kubiak also has to hire a new defensive line coach. He offered that job to Rod Marinelli, who went to Chicago.

Bush was Kubiak’s first choice to be defensive coordinator in 2006, but Arizona wouldn’t let him out of his contract. Richard Smith had been hired to coach linebackers, and he was promoted to coordinator. Bush was hired as a senior defensive assistant a year later.

Bush will be calling defenses for the first time.

Prepared for his chance

“Frank was ready for this opportunity a few years ago,” Kubiak said. “This league’s about opportunity. Look at all the so-called hot coordinators that are getting chances to be head coaches. They all started somewhere.

“Frank has been around good football people. ... I don’t have any doubt that he’ll call things extremely well.”

The Texans asked Washington for permission to interview Jerry Gray, but the Redskins turned them down.

“We don’t want to venture away from our 4-3 scheme and what we’re doing,” Kubiak said. “I love Frank’s ideas and identity and what he sees us being as a defensive team.

“I know he’s a great teacher and a great motivator. I think we’re heading in the right direction, and Frank keeps us going in that direction.”

This is Bush’s 25th season in the NFL. He was a player, scout and assistant coach with the Oilers. He coached linebackers, defensive backs and special teams with the Broncos and Cardinals. He helped coach the defensive line with the Texans.

“We’re going to make sure we get all of these (players) on the same page,” Bush said. “We’re going to communicate. We’re going to make sure everybody’s doing the exact same job at the exact same time.

“I like to think I can motivate (the players). You want to appeal to something inside them, something deeper. They have a burning desire to play big, to be great. ... You try to appeal to that desire within each of them to try to get them moving in the right direction.”

More assertive line play

It all starts up front with the linemen. They’ll be used differently under Bush.

“We’ll give them a chance to be aggressive at the start of the play,” Bush said. “They’ll be attacking more. They’ll get off the line of scrimmage and up the field. We won’t go sideways.”